Bancal Christian Church

The Bible
We affirm that the Bible—consisting of the Old and New Testaments—is the inspired and authoritative Word of God (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16–17). In faith, we uphold Scripture as free from error in its original form, divinely breathed out, and the final guide for all matters of doctrine and life (2 Timothy 3:16–17). The human authors, though writing in their own style, were divinely directed by the Holy Spirit, ensuring their writings conveyed God's intended message without fault or omission (2 Peter 1:21).

2. God
We believe in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; Colossians 1:16) who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct Persons united in essence, glory, and being (2 Corinthians 13:14; John 10:30). He is eternal (Psalm 90:2), infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). God possesses perfect knowledge (Psalm 139:1–6), is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7–13), and holds all power (Revelation 19:6). He is holy (Isaiah 6:3), just and righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4; Exodus 9:27), while also being loving (1 John 4:8), gracious (Ephesians 2:8), merciful (1 Peter 1:3), and good (Romans 8:28).

3. Jesus Christ
We profess that Jesus Christ is fully divine—God in human form—revealing the Father to humanity and providing the way of salvation (Matthew 1:21; John 1:18; Colossians 1:15). Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23), He is both truly God and truly man. He lived a flawless, sinless life and upheld all truth in His teachings. He willingly gave His life on the cross as a substitute for all humanity (1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:5–6), and His atoning sacrifice secures salvation for those who receive Him as Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Acts 16:31). Our justification is made possible through His shed blood (Romans 5:9; Ephesians 1:7), confirmed by His bodily resurrection (Matthew 28:6; 1 Peter 1:3). We also affirm that He ascended into Heaven in glorified form (Acts 1:9–10) and now intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father as High Priest and Advocate (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).

4. The Holy Spirit
We affirm the Holy Spirit’s divine nature and personal character (Acts 5:3–4). He brings about spiritual rebirth in sinners (Titus 3:5) and dwells within every believer (Romans 8:9). Through Him, all followers of Christ are baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:12–14) and sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13–14). As the Divine Teacher, He opens our hearts and minds to understand Scripture’s truths (1 Corinthians 2:9–12). We acknowledge the Spirit’s sovereign role in distributing spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11). While His miraculous empowerments remain within His ability, we hold that certain extraordinary manifestations were unique to the early church era (1 Corinthians 12:4–11; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20; 4:7–12).

5. Angels and Demons
We believe in the real existence and distinct personalities of angels, created as God’s servants and messengers (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2; Hebrews 1:14). We also affirm the reality of Satan and the fallen angels, who rebelled against God under Satan’s leadership (Isaiah 14:12–17; Ezekiel 28:12–15). As adversaries of God and humanity, they oppose His purposes. We believe they will face eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

6. Humanity
We teach that humanity was directly created by God in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27). Through Adam’s disobedience, all people inherit a sinful nature and choose sin (Romans 3:23), estranging us from fellowship with a holy God. In our fallen state, we are incapable of restoring ourselves (Ephesians 2:1–5, 12).

7. Salvation
Salvation is solely a gift of God’s grace, received by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8–9). In His death, Christ fully accomplished justification and redemption for sinners (Romans 5:8–9; 1 Peter 2:24). We affirm salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Good works flow from genuine faith as its natural outcome, not as a basis for salvation (James 2). Because of Christ’s perfect sacrifice, all true believers are eternally secure, preserved by God’s power until the final day (John 10:27–30; Romans 8:1, 38–39; Ephesians 1:13–14; 1 Peter 1:5).

8. The Church
We recognize the Church as the spiritual Body of Christ, composed of all believers in this age (1 Corinthians 12:12–14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:25–27). We practice believer’s baptism by immersion, symbolizing our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:41–42; 18:8). We observe the Lord’s Supper as a memorial of His sacrificial death (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). The Church exists to teach obedience to Christ, to bear witness to the gospel, and to live in holiness. We are commissioned to make disciples of all nations, declaring the grace of God to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19–20).

9. Things to Come
We eagerly await the blessed hope—the personal and imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). We believe He will visibly return with His saints to establish His millennial kingdom on earth (Zechariah 14:4–11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; 19:11–16; 20:1–6). We affirm the bodily resurrection of all people: believers to eternal life on the new earth, and unbelievers to conscious judgment and eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28–29; Revelation 20:12–13). We teach that at death, believers’ souls are present with the Lord until their resurrection and glorification (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). Unbelievers’ souls endure conscious separation from God until the Great White Throne judgment, when body and soul reunite for final condemnation (Matthew 25:41–46; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 16:19–26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; Revelation 20:11–15).